P151 CASH CONVERSION CYCLE American Products is concerned about managing cash efficiently. On average, inventories have an age of 80 days, and accounts receivable are collected in 40 days. Accounts payable are paid approximately 30 days after they arise. The firm has annual sales of about $30 million. Goods sold total $20 million, and purchases are $15 million.

a. Calculate the firms operating cycle.

b. Calculate the firms cash conversion cycle.

c. Calculate the amount of resources needed to support the firms cash conversion cycle.

d. Discuss how management might be able to reduce the cash conversion cycle.

P154 AGGRESSIVE VERSUS CONSERVATIVE SEASONAL FUNDING STRATEGY Dynabase Tool has forecast its total funds requirements for the coming year as shown in the following table.

a. Divide the firms monthly funds requirement into (1) a permanent component and (2) a seasonal component, and find the monthly average for each of these components.

b. Describe the amount of long-term and short-term financing used to meet the total funds requirement under (1) an aggressive funding strategy and (2) a conservative funding strategy. Assume that, under the aggressive strategy, long-term funds finance permanent needs and short-term funds are used to finance seasonal needs.

c. Assuming that short-term funds cost 5% annually and that the cost of long-term funds is 10% annually, use the averages found in part a to calculate the total cost of each of the strategies described in part b. Assume that the firm can earn 3% on any excess cash balances.

d. Discuss the profitabilityrisk tradeoffs associated with the aggressive strategy and those associated with the conservative strategy.

\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|} \hline Month & Amount & Month & Amount \\ \hline January & $2,000,000 & July & $12,000,000 \\ \hline February & 2,000,000 & August & 14,000,000 \\ \hline March & 2,000,000 & September & 9,000,000 \\ \hline April & 4,000,000 & October & 5,000,000 \\ \hline May & 6,000,000 & November & 4,000,000 \\ \hline June & 9,000,000 & December & 3,000,000 \\ \hline \end{tabular}